I have an 09 900 Vulcan. I keep forgetting to turn off the turn signals. Is there an aftermarket module to cure this problem? If Harley has it figured out you'd think Kawasaki could!!! Thanks....DJ
I use signal minder, also allows you to turn your rear turn signals to pulsing brake lights (need to buy red lens), 4 way and parade modes as well. Pretty simple install. I think around $100, $10 for red lens on ebay.
I'm glad you posted this! I wish there was a fix to this, I would put it on immediately, because this can cause a horrible accident! Example, I was riding on the back roads with my daughter one day, just a nice casual ride. I was approaching a road entering in from the left hand side, and a person pulled out right in front of me, at first I was astonished I hit my brakes, my back wheel locked up and fishtailed a little bit, I laid on my horn, and then realize later that I may have left my turn signal on that's why they pulled out, still they should have waited, but what an accident cause a this turn signal non Auto canceling can be! Now I don't even turn my turn signal on unless there are cars around , as it's more dangerous to leave this thing on the just not turn it on sometimes. When I do turn it on, I try to turn it off during the turn or even just before the turn to avoid forgetting about it. Great post, hope we get some solutions!
Totally agree! I'm not sure why this is not a mandatory safety feature on all road bikes! As much as I try to remember and hit the cancel several times just to be sure, I still find that on some rare occasions I'm horrified to find that I left them on!!! I'm in the market for a new bike and it WILL have built-in turn signal canceler!
Wow so it looks like if you install this, and make sure to install the tiny Springs, then this would automatically cancel correct? Or am I reading something wrong? I wonder how much work the spring installation is, I'm going to YouTube it to see if there's an installation video. This may be the ticket thanks Bill
Most Vulcan models have it; it's an odd omission from the 900.
+1 to the signal minder; that's what I used when I had a 900. My wife has a Shadow 750 and while it doesn't have self-canceling signals; it does have the turn signal indicator mounted up on the triple-tree where it's clearly visible; not down below the speedometer where one really shouldn't be 'looking' when riding. The signal minder is great; it gives a gentle 'blip' which then turns into a louder 'beep' after some time. It can get a little annoying sitting at a red light or something because; unlike the OEM self-canceling system on other models that disengages after DISTANCE; the Signal Minder is just time based. But; it does work! I wired mine into the headlight bucket.
This is the age-old problem of leaving turn signals on...we've all done it.
It's not like we're some octogenarian driving down the freeway (ok, maybe some of us are) with the turn signal always flashing. We get busy, assumedly with situational awareness. You know...dog...cop..ooh, cute girl [emoji16].
Turn signal are cancelled in bikes by one of two methods - manually (mechanical means) and automatically (electrical or electronics).
In the mechanical system the turn signal switch is an assembly that leaves the selector in either the right or left position and does not 'reset' until pushed in. Electronic systems have either a unified selector or separate switches (like some Harleys) and the ECU or BCU treats these as inputs to the computer...from there the bike either looks at time and/or distance calculated by using the speed sensor in the wheels or transmission. In this type of system the switches are always monentary-contact.
The Signal Minder translates the mechanical 'old-school' switches to inputs and processes them on time only (as Romans5.8 mentioned); the springs just override the OEM switch cams to always, automatically return the selector to the center position.
If you don't want to go through this conversion process finding a retrofit turn signal relay with an integrated audible 'beeper' (IF you can hear it) might be a low-cost (and lower labor) alternative...just make sure the pins match up, it physically fits in the bike...and can handle whatever incandescent/LED turn signal load you have at an acceptable flash rate.
I've also known folks who just went to RadioShack (er... when that was still a thing) and just bought a loud 12v buzzer and wired it into their turn signals. So they got a 'buzz' for every flash. Sounds... less appealing than the soft 'blip' of the signal minder from SMIDSY (you know the beeping crosswalk signs? That's kind of what it sounds like, unless you leave it on too long and it switches to 'You left your turn signal on, moron" mode). But cheap!
There are lots of piezo beepers available, both in there (f you can find a Radio Shack), or on eBay.
The last time I did a piezo mod was to put an audible 'screamer' on my Harley - oddly, it came from the factory with the security system, but no audible alarm. Rather than pay the $75 they wanted for their alarm annunciator I used a 110 DB piezo alarm. Louder than OEM.
There are lots of piezo beepers available, both in there (f you can find a Radio Shack), or on eBay.
The last time I did a piezo mod was to put an audible 'screamer' on my Harley - oddly, it came from the factory with the security system, but no audible alarm. Rather than pay the $75 they wanted for their alarm annunciator I used a 110 DB piezo alarm. Louder than OEM.
I really like this, thanks, my next project, just dropped 400 on new Michelins this afternoon! didn't you coach me to go with the 170? Thats what i went with!
Lazy, lazy, lazy! Your thumb sits next to the turn signal switch, that's all you need. Plus, most bikes have a flashing light on the dash to let YOU know your turn signal is on. Sheesh, next you'll want AC, a massaging backrest and an automatic transmission.
The "dash" on these bikes is down on the tank and the turn signal indicator is on the bottom of that. Unless you look down, it won't work.
There's absolutely no correlation between a massaging backrest, A/C and self-cancelling turn signals. That's specious and non-sensical.
If you find yourself occasionally forgetting to turn off the turn signal then it's reasonable to want to install something to fix that to keep you safe. Nobody is wanting self-cancelling signals because they don't want to put out the effort of pushing the cancel button. They are doing it because they forget. Since on some models, you can't actually see the indicator when you're looking at the road, it can be a problem!
The whole line of reasoning that anything that makes a motorcycle safer or more comfortable also makes it 'less of a motorcycle' is just silly. It doesn't make any sense.
Now, now boys...play nice [emoji16].
I was actually surprised by the number of things the my wife's little Vulcan S had on it that are lacking in some other bikes of that size...Hazard flasher, tachometer, flash-to-pass trigger, etc.
I have a friend who collects and restores "older " motorcycles and whenever I'm in his part of the country I have a standing offer to go ride one of them with him. I enjoy riding semi-vintage bikes and it makes you appreciate some of the little things that add to our safety (and yes, comfort) on today's motorcycles.
I understand both points of view but given the option I'd go for self-canceling signals, or at least an audio annunciator ALMOST every time.
The exception would be if it's on a vintage bike and I wanted to keep it historically correct.
I'm on the opposite end of the spectrum as always. I actually like the fact that they do not self cancel. I disabled it on my Glide as it seemed they would always turn themselves off at the most inopportune times. Like when sitting in traffic waiting to turn left and cross traffic, only to look down before the turn and the blinker has been off for who knows how long. I would just rather it be on and forget to turn it off than have it turn off who knows when. Granted it was probably the outdated technology of my 25 yr old Glide. But at this time I can now go back and forth between bikes and they are now the same. I have to cancel the blinker after a turn. Which really is just second nature by now anyways.
My point is this is a safety issue. I agree with pushing the cancel periodically using a beeper, led, cancelling signals or whatever you choose to help ensure your signals are not unintentionally left flashing. The location of the signal minder on the 900 is not where it will readily get your attention when you are lookng where you are riding.
WB
Riding without cancelers, you have to remember to hit the switch when you are thru changing lanes or making a turn. If you do it enough, it becomes automatic. It was exceedingly rare that I left them on with the Sabre. I always use a turn signal to turn or change lanes even if there is no one in sight either way (bike or cage). It's just automatic reflex that way.
I do like having cancelers, though. The Voyager ones just don't stay on long enough. They are supposed to stay on for 300', I think. They turn off at 200' on my bike. It has become automatic for me to repeatedly hit the switch to keep them on for long approaches, or when trying to get a safe space to change lanes. I still automatically hit cancel after a lane change.
Pre Rant: I also make sure they are on long enough to actually give others a chance to react. I look in the mirror then over my shoulder to see if there is a good space to move over, then look back forward while turning on the turn signal. Before I move over, I use the mirror and look over my shoulder again. That keeps the turn signal on for several seconds before I make a lane change. The MSF instructor I had said "Change lanes with authority" meaning get over like you are swerving over. That's what I do on the bike. No dilly dallying getting over.
Rant: I hate it when someone turns on their turn signal the instant (or later) that they start changing lane! I have had sooo many folks do that when they weren't even past me (bike and car). I have had to hit the brakes hard to keep from hitting many of them. Blow my horn? They just flip me off like I was at fault! But what steams me the most are the a$$ wipes that don't give any turn signal changing lanes or turning until they get to the very end of a turn lane! WTF good does that do?
The more I think about this, the more I would probably lean towards just a light indicator. If you go with something that has a timer on it, and not a true turn signal canceller like the Gold Wing has on it, then it seems like you may have some safety issues on the other side of things! Good thread though!
Kisan Signalminder has worked well for me, i find the 10 second setting best. If you have the brakes on it pauses the countdown, i.e. If you are at an intersection waiting to turn if your front or rear brake is on it will continue to flash so you don't need to keep turning it on after every 10 seconds. Alternatively if you are changing lanes and don't want it on for 10 seconds you can cancel it by simply pressing the signal button. Having the pulsing brake light and 4 way emergency flash capability are nice features as well.
I like that the3 Signal Minder gives you several options for cancellation. The 10 second option works well for me also. As long as youy have either the front or rear brakes applied, the turn signals continue to flash (when stopped at lights). Once the brakes are released the timer starts.
Two last post, I like a little bit better, if they pause when the brakes are on. I guess then you just got the one scenario where you're riding along the highway or two Lane One Way Road, trying to get left or right, with your turn signal on, and the line of traffic keeps you from getting over within 10 seconds and turns off. Again, I guess we can't have everything! Maybe we are lazy lazy lazy,
Not lazy. If changing lanes you will most likely remember to reapply the signal if you are stuck in traffic. The core problem is the signal indicator light is out of your field of view when riding so if you forget to turn it off or don't push it hard enough it continues to flash without you being aware if it. If the signal indicator was visible in my field of view i would not have purchased a signal canceller, but I do like the flashing brake and 4 way flasher feature on the signalminder. After installing signal minder i removed a pulsing brake add on that was about half the cost of the kisan signalminder. Would have saved $50 by buying signalminder first. Oh well!
On my wife's bike I used a stick-on beeper that creates an audible sound each time the turn signal was on. She could hear the beeping with a full face helmet on. The beeper is just a stick-on that you place over the turn signal warning light. I have seen these for about $5 AutoLogix 9642 Back-Up Warning Alarm
Not high tech but does solve the problem. The battery lasts a couple of years and then remove, clean off adhesive with some goo gone, and stick on a new one. I used these on my 900 until I found the Kisan signal minder. They used to carry these at WalMart.
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
Kawasaki Vulcan Forum
712.7K posts
67.9K members
Since 2008
A forum community dedicated to Kawasaki Vulcan motorcycle owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about performance, modifications, Vulcan 1500, Vulcan 2000, Vulcan 500, Vulcan 1600, Vulcan 900 and all other Vulcan motorcycles.